Chapter 11 Zect SIDE The One Who Inherits
After the wedding ceremony, we finally arrived at Kohane's castle, a structure so small in name, yet so large in presence.
Although "small" in name, its scale was beyond anything a noble's mansion could claim. The word "castle" felt like an understatement. There were no grand halls, no towering spires, but the sheer size left a mark of grandeur. A moat encircled the walls, and a heavy drawbridge spanned the distance between us and the entrance.
This was Ceres' wedding gift to us. A castle, our castle.
But it wasn't really ours, was it? It wasn't as simple as inheriting it or earning it through some noble act. The castle held rooms for servants, maids, even offices. It was a grand structure, yet it somehow felt like a place we didn't quite belong to, despite the extravagance. Still, from the moment I set foot inside, I couldn't deny the truth: the living space offered was vast beyond comprehension.
For someone like me, a former villager, this was almost unimaginable. The weight of it settled over me like a mountain. How could someone like me, a man who barely survived the chaos of war, now live here? It felt... wrong. Too much. Too big. I'd once dreamt of becoming a king, but now that I stood before it, I questioned everything. Was this really my life?
"Zect... is this really our home now?" Luna's voice broke through my thoughts.
I looked over at her, and then at Marin, both clearly awestruck. But if they were surprised, I was even more so. My life until now had been a story of failure. I'd lost to the dragon's rampage. I'd been crushed by Mammon. If there was a Hero who had failed as much as I did, I doubted anyone would believe it.
How could I, the man who had achieved nothing of true worth, stand here as if I'd earned this? I haven't fought the Demon King. I haven't saved anyone.
This wasn't my victory. It was Ceres'. He was the true hero, not me. I mustn't forget that.
I could feel it, like a weight on my chest. It didn't matter that I had led not just humanity but even the demons to peace. I had no right to claim this.
* * *
The mood shifted as the others began to voice their thoughts.
"I never imagined I'd be living in a castle with Zect." Lida's voice was soft, almost a whisper.
"I can't believe it either," Maria said, eyes wide. "We—who couldn't even stop the dragon's rampage or defeat Mammon—are now in a castle. It's... too unreal."
"And yet..." Mel's voice trailed off, uncertainty painting her words. "It still doesn't feel right."
I could sense the hesitation in all of them. Their thoughts mirrored mine. We were all here, but we didn't belong.
But even so, the beauty of the castle couldn't be ignored. There was something about its charm that drew me in. Small, yes, but graceful. It wasn't the grandeur of a grand imperial fortress, but it had its own quiet elegance.
"That's Kohane's castle," Marin said, her voice full of admiration. "It's renowned for its beauty."
I could see why. Compared to the cold, sterile castles I'd visited in the past, this one felt... alive. Despite its size, it felt like a home, warm and inviting.
"Zect-sama, I've lived in a royal castle before, but they're always more formality than function," Marin continued. "The stone walls make them freezing in winter, and even the heat doesn't seem to reach the rooms. But this place... it's different. I can feel it."
The warmth of the room seemed to affirm her words. Kohane Castle wasn't just grand; it was comfortable, too. Perhaps more so than I'd expected.
"Well," I said, taking a deep breath. "It's a newer castle. I'm sure that's part of it. Technology, maybe?"
"Exactly!" Marin nodded. "My father always said newer castles had better insulation. Even if they were large, they could be surprisingly cozy."
"There's a world of difference between old and new castles," I mused.
"I'd take this over any noble mansion," Lida added with a grin. "Those are just stuffy, cold places."
We all shared a laugh at that, and for a moment, it felt like we were simply living in the present, in this strange, new life we found ourselves in. But I couldn't quite shake the feeling that it was all too much.
* * *
When we reached the castle's drawbridge, a crowd had already gathered—at least fifty or sixty people stood in waiting. A wave of nervous energy hit me.
That's... a lot of people.
As soon as our eyes met, one person stepped forward and raised their voice in a loud, clear tone.
"We offer our gratitude to our second-generation King Zect-sama—!"
The moment I called out to them, the entire crowd bowed in perfect sync, their heads low, posture humble.
So formal...
The man at the front was someone I vaguely remembered. He'd probably heard about me from Ceres.
Yes. That was the governor—Korda.
"You really don't need to be so formal," I said, waving a hand awkwardly. "This territory and castle were a gift from Ceres. I haven't done anything that special as a Hero. You can treat me normally. Really, no need to be stiff."
But Korda didn't budge. His back stayed straight, his voice full of pride.
"What are you saying? Ceres-sama personally bowed and asked me to serve you just as I did during his reign. I have received messages from Pope Romalis, King Zanmark, and Emperor Kaiser. All three asked me to serve you even more loyally than I did them."
Ceres... had gone that far?
He really arranged all of this...?
Once again, I found myself unable to raise my head when thinking of Ceres.
Even now, standing here before a castle, being treated like a king—I felt like I didn't deserve any of it.
I thought back to those times... the dragon riot in Bushiya. I couldn't even give proper orders then.
Can someone like me really manage a country?
The moment I stepped into this role, I finally felt the weight of the crown. It wasn't a decoration. It was real. And heavy.
"As king of Kohane... what am I even supposed to do? Until now, all I've done is fight. I've never run a village, let alone a kingdom."
Korda answered smoothly, as if he'd expected that question.
"Kohane is a legitimate, independent nation—recognized by the Holy Church Nation, Kingdom, and Empire. Ceres-sama was its official king."
"I know that," I replied, stiffly.
"Then allow me to explain more simply. In this country, the king's power is strong. Right now, we still use the laws from before, and we follow Ceres-sama's wishes. But from this moment on, this is Zect-sama's country. You can make laws. You can rule as you wish. No taxes go to the Holy Church Nation, Empire, or any other. This is yours."
...So it's basically a dictatorship.
A country made for Ceres, who was practically a god. A divine dragon. And people accepted that because Ceres would never do anything bad.
But I am not Ceres.
"Will it really continue this way?"
"Most likely," Korda nodded. "Also, one of your queens is now first in line to the throne of Dhamar Kingdom. There are talks of unifying the two nations in the future."
What?
I hadn't heard anything about that.
Wait—Marin? First in line?
"That can't be right. The first in line should be Princess Marianne—Ceres's wife."
Korda looked at me calmly. "Are you not aware? Marianne-sama renounced her claim. That's why Marin-sama is now first in line."
Marin stepped forward, her tone steady. "My sister officially resigned from the royal family. I thought I had done the same, but since my resignation was never formalized, I became the heir."
Korda nodded. "Yes, that's what I've heard. But don't worry. From today, everyone here will become members of Kohane's royal family."
"So... we're royalty again?" Lida muttered.
I clenched my fists. "But I've never even lived as royalty. I don't know how to rule. What should I do?"
"That is why I'm here," Korda said. "Until now, I governed this country in place of Ceres-sama. He lives for world peace. We couldn't let royal duties tie him down. But I am old now."
His next words hit harder than anything I expected.
"Ceres-sama, the royal families of every nation, and even His Holiness the Pope... all asked me to guide Zect-sama. They asked me to raise and educate you."
I swallowed hard.
"I'm... inexperienced. Please help me."
"Yes. You may rest today, but starting tomorrow, you will begin your royal education. Expect no holidays. You will sleep only three hours a day."
"Ahem. I am a born royal, so I don't need that," Marin said with a small cough.
Korda gave a respectful nod. "Princess Marin, that's true. But to the others, I ask for your full cooperation."
"""""Huh!?"""" everyone else cried in unison.
So... the real struggle begins here.
I had planned to relax in the hot spring with Kohane. Maybe take it easy for a while.
This is way too sudden.
Being a king is hard. I never wanted this.
I remembered Ceres's tired face when he said that.
And now... my dream came true.
But I don't know if it's happiness or something else.
Still, I made up my mind.
Ceres gave this to me. There's no turning back. No running away. I won't betray him again.
Because I'm Ceres's best friend.
Notes:
• Marin - A Princess. Zect's legal wife and a princess.
• Korda - Male. The governor of Kohane, appointed by Ceres. He is loyal and dedicated to serving Zect and the royal family. Korda is described as an older man who has governed the country in Ceres' stead.
• Bushiya - A location where Zect failed to suppress a dragon riot, leading to his defeat by Mammon.
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